Geography and Climate of New Hampshire
New Hampshire, bordered by Canadian province Quebec to the north, Massachusetts to the south, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Vermont to the west, lies in the New England region.
The White Mountains are in the Great North Woods, the northernmost area of the state. This range extends across the northern central region of New Hampshire.
Mount Washington is the tallest in the range and the tallest in the northeastern U.S., with the “worst weather on earth” due to extreme high-velocity winds. In the middle of the state, the Lakes Region has three lakes, with Lake Winnipesaukee the largest lake at 72 square miles.
Juxtaposed rocky cliffs and sandy beaches make up the Seacoast Region. New Hampshire’s coastline, only 18 miles, is the smallest of any state. The Isles of Shoals, comprised of nine small islands, lies partly in New Hampshire. It's also the site of Hampton Beach, a popular destination for summer tourists.
New Hampshire is only second to Maine in terms of forested area. The “north country,” or “north of the notches” refers to the northern part of the state, which has less than five percent of the population.
The Monadnock Region takes its name after Mount Monadnock, an isolated peak located in the southwestern part of the state. The Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region consists of the Upper Valley area, where Hanover is located, and Lake Sunapee, a summertime recreation and resort area.
Merrimack River cuts through the lower part of the state and flows into Massachusetts. Connecticut River starts at the Connecticut Lakes and flows south. It helps define the boundary with Vermont, while the headwaters outline the border with Canada.
The Piscataqua River creates New Hampshire’s most important port, flowing out into the Atlantic Ocean at Portsmouth. Salmon Falls and the Piscataqua rivers create the Maine-New Hampshire border.
New Hampshire has a humid continental climate, featuring warm summers and cold, wet winters. The Atlantic Oceans moderates much of the climate in the southeastern part of the state. This area is usually milder in temperature and rainier, whereas the north and central regions have cooler weather and lower humidity.
Precipitation falls throughout the year at an average of 40 inches. Winters are cold and snowy, ranging from about 60 to 100 inches of snowfall annually. Blizzards and nor’easters are not unheard of, but light and even snowfall is more likely. Proximity to the Atlantic Ocean makes New Hampshire susceptible to hurricanes and tropical storms, but it is uncommon.
History of New Hampshire
Algonquian tribes inhabited the New Hampshire area before the 1600s, when French and English explorers arrived. Founded on a land grant in 1629, New Hampshire was originally part of Massachusetts and named after the English country bearing the same name. Although a group of English fishermen led by David Thompson settled at Odiorne’s Point in 1623, Hilton’s Point was the first permanent establishment, which is now Dover.
In 1631, Capt. Thomas Wiggin became the first governor of the Upper Plantation, the locations of present-day Dover, Durham and Stratham. New Hampshire and Massachusetts had a shaky relationship. In 1679, Upper Plantation became the “Royal Province,” led by John Cutt as governor.
As one of the original thirteen colonies, New Hampshire rebelled against British rule during the American Revolution. Only one battle was fought in 1774 in Portsmouth Harbor at Fort William and Mary. However, it provided the Americans with valuable weapons and ammunition for the Battle of Bunker Hill.
New Hampshire militia fought in that battle, along with the Saratoga Campaign. In 1776, New Hampshire ratified its constitution before signing the Declaration of Independence. However, it was the ninth state to ratify the new U.S. Constitution. The Webster-Ashburton Treaty in 1842 fixed the northern boundary dispute between New Hampshire and Canada.
During colonial times, sawmills and shipyards held together the economy of villages and towns along the Seacoast. These towns continued to grow, as wealthy merchants built up the surrounding cities. Textile mills industrialized the economy during the 19th century, attracting large numbers of Irish immigrants and French-Canadians from Quebec. Lumber production in the north was very profitable, while the mountains remain a popular tourist attraction.
Before the Civil War, New Hampshire was a strong abolitionist state, giving quite a bit of support to the Free Soil party. Although Democrats from the President Jackson era remained in control, New Hampshire’s native son, Franklin Pierce, was President when he tried to unite his party with an antislavery platform. In 1856, the state shifted support to the Republican Party. New Hampshire was a staunch Union supporter, contributing supplies and troops to the Union effort.
Population growth was slow but steady after the Civil War as industrialization increased. Over logging caused the need for conservation in a bill protecting many of the state’s rivers and forests.
Small towns based around one industry took the hardest hit from the Great Depression. In the 1960s, the textile industry started to fall apart. Since then, New Hampshire’s economy includes high-tech firms, creating a cultural and economic link between the state and Boston, Massachusetts.
Demographics of New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s estimated population as of 2005 is 1,309,940.
Irish and French-Canadian are the largest ancestry groups, many of which descended from mill workers. French-Canadians alone represent over a quarter of New Hampshire’s population. English, Italian, German and Scottish are other significant European ancestry groups.
Nearly three-fourths of the population is Christian, with Catholics representing 35 percent. Baptists and the United Church of Christ each comprise six percent of the New Hampshire's religious makeup, whereas 17 percent of the population consider themselves non-religious.
Economy of New Hampshire
In 2003, the gross state product for New Hampshire was $49 billion, while per capita income was $37,835.
The state’s industrial days have carried over into the present, producing electric equipment, rubber, machinery and plastic products. Since the middle of the 20th century, New Hampshire’s economy has shifted from textiles and shoemaking to high-tech operations.
New Hampshire’s agricultural outputs include cattle, dairy products, nursery stock, eggs and apples. Tourism is also a strong industry, as people drive up to play at the beach and view the scenic coastline or ski in the mountains.
New Hampshire Law and Government
Democrat John Lynch is the current governor of New Hampshire. John E. Sununu and Judd Gregg, both Republicans, represent New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate. The state also has two congressional representatives. Concord is the state capital.
New Hampshire is in the national spotlight every election year for its early Presidential primary, the New Hampshire primary. Since 1952, the state has been an important battleground for politicians vying to win the candidacy.
Around half of the media’s attention goes to New Hampshire, while the other half goes to the Iowa caucus. Dixville Notch and Hart’s Location both vote at midnight on the Tuesday when the primary takes place.
In the past, New Hampshire has voted Republican, remaining the most conservative New England state. However, it is now considered swing state, with Libertarian tendencies that favor individual freedom and limited government powers. Local government is very active in New Hampshire, using town meeting to conduct business. New Hampshire is also one of the only states to allow civil unions for same-sex couples.
New Hampshire Transportation
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport provides service to both the state and the Boston metro area. There are several other regional and private airports.
I-93 and I-83 run north to south through the state, connecting every major city and town, including Concord and Manchester. I-95 travels the Seacoast Region and Portsmouth. Route 112, or the Kancamagus Highway, travels through the White Mountains.
Route 25 runs through New Hampshire from Vermont to Maine, while U.S. Routes 3 runs parallel to I-93. Other U.S. Routes travel east to west, linking New Hampshire towns to neighboring states.
Find out more from the New Hamphire Department of Transportation.
Major Cities and Towns of New Hampshire
Manchester is New Hampshire’s most densely populated city. The Currier Museum of Art, the Palace Theatre and the New Hampshire Institute of Art are all located in the city, along with a thriving downtown area.
Concord, Lebanon-Hartland, Portsmouth and Rochester-Dover are other major cities in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Educational System
Many of the state’s public high schools serve more than one town, like Pinkerton Academy in Derry. There are many private and elite preparatory schools in New Hampshire.
The University System of New Hampshire encompasses the University of New Hampshire, along with three other state colleges. Ivy League-school Dartmouth College is in Hanover and is widely recognized as one of the top universities in the country. Colby-Sawyer College is another liberal arts school, along with several other small schools.
Learn more at the New Hampshire Department of Education.
New Hampshire Sports Teams and Recreational Activities
New Hampshire does not have any major sports franchises. However, it does have a few minor league teams that play baseball, ice hockey, basketball, arena football and soccer.
Skiing during the winter at the mountains is very popular, along with snowboarding, ice hockey and ice-skating. Hunting, camping and fishing in the dense forests of the state are other popular recreational activities.
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